Trade

One of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate is to support
policies that encourage economic growth in Washington state. Promoting
international trade is critical to ensure our economy stays strong.
Washington is the most trade-dependent state in the nation. Our
exports exceeded $66 billion in 2007, and according to estimates, one
in three jobs in Washington depends on international trade.

However, I also strongly believe that the U.S. must engage in fair
trade practices and demand the same from its trading partners. The
terms of trade agreements must be enforced to ensure American products
receive fair access in international markets. I have consistently
fought to ensure we are working with our international trading partners
to see that they comply with internationally recognized standards for
labor, environmental stewardship, human rights, and intellectual
property protections.

I have been a strong supporter of trade
adjustment assistance programs to help displaced workers
learn skills that will help them stay competitive in the global
economy, and I have worked to add provisions to legislation that
would provide additional health care benefits for workers who are
transitioning to new jobs. I have also fought to expand trade
adjustment assistance so it covers workers in more fields and offers
more types of training and assistance.

Improving our Educationsystem
is vital to enable Americans to get the skills and training they need
to succeed. By investing in strong reading, math, and science
curriculums in our schools, we can ensure that the next generation
of American workers will have the skills necessary to get
family-wage jobs in competitive global industries, such as
technology and engineering.

I have authored legislation that would reform America’s high
schools. My proposal would increase the emphasis on reading and math,
help students and their families plan for graduation, and help schools
that are lagging behind. Those efforts to better equip students for
jobs in a global economy have helped shape national education policy
and programs, and I will continue to push for stronger curriculums that
help ensure American students have the skills to compete against their
peers anywhere in the world.

We also must invest in our current workforce and
help provide access to training programs for workers
looking to gain new skills. I have authored and fought for legislation
to expand the nation’s workforce development programs, and I will
continue to fight for initiatives that help American workers
become better equipped to compete in international markets.

Finally, we must continue to improve
existing trade agreements and use them to expand our
access to foreign markets, set labor standards that respect human
rights, and provide environmental protections. Labor standards
and environmental safeguards should be central issues to every
trade contract, and contracts should include provisions to ensure
enforcement.